Poinsettia plant named &#39;fisson beckpink&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘Fisson Beckpink’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the combined features of intense hot pink bract color; medium sized, star-shaped inflorescence with distinctly lobed bracts; uniform dark-green foliage, with relatively strong lobes; moderately compact, well-branched, and round plant habit; medium (mid season) flowering response; and good after-sale keeping quality of the bracts and the cyathia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant known by the cultivar name ‘Fisson Beckpink’, andbotanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima.

[0002] ‘Fisson Beckpink’ was derived from a naturally occuring mutationin the variety ‘Fisson’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,365). ‘Fisson’ ischaracterized by brilliant red bracts with pointed lobes, dark-greenfoliage and well-branched, round plant habit. The mutation wasdiscovered by Karl-Rudolf Beckmann, the inventor, in his greenhouse inGönnebek, Germany, among a group of flowering plants, in the fall of1996.

[0003] A single, branched plant had completely mutated and displayed anintense pink bract color, instead of the red color of the parentvariety. This plant was taken to Hillscheid, Germany, Germany, in winter1996/97. In the spring of 1997, the plant was asexually multiplied bytaking shoot tip cuttings in Hillscheid, Germany, by Katharina Zerr.

[0004] The resulting plants were examined in the autumn trialcultivation in 1997 and proved to be absolutely uniform. This wasconfirmed in the horticultural trial cultivation conducted on a largerscale both in Langley, Canada, and in Hillscheid, Germany, in the fallof 1998.

[0005] ‘Fisson Beckpink’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Fisson Beckpink’, which incombination distinguish this Poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar:

[0007] 1. intense hot pink bract color;

[0008] 2. medium sized, star-shaped inflorescence with distinctly lobedbracts;

[0009] 3. uniform dark-green foliage, with relatively strong lobes;

[0010] 4. moderately compact, well-branched, and round plant habit;

[0011] 5. medium (mid season) flowering response; and

[0012] 6. good after-sale keeping quality of the bracts and the cyathia.

[0013] Of the may commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fisson Beckpink’ is the parent cultivar‘Fisson’ and the related cultivar ‘Fissonosa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.10,182).

[0014] In comparison to ‘Fisson’, ‘Fisson Beckpink’ has a differentbract color, rose instead of red, weaker anthocyanin coloration ofstems, petioles and leaf veins, and has bracts with a somewhat morewrinkled surface.

[0015] In comparison to ‘Fissonosa’, ‘Fisson Beckpink’ has a moreintense and and more uniform bract color. There is hardly any differenceof intensity of the color between the larger and the smaller bracts, incontrast to the inflorescence of ‘Fissonosa’. Furthermore, the bracts of‘Fisson Beckpink’ tend to becoming somewhat rugose or wrinkled withmaturing, while those of ‘Fissonosa’ remain relatively smooth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typicalinflorescence and foliage of ‘Fisson Beckpink’, with colors being astrue as possible with illustrations of this type. The photograph shows aflowering potted plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The plants described were grown in a greenhouse in Langley,British Columbia, Canada, in the fall of 1998. Rooted cuttings wereplanted into 15 cm pots on August 10, and were pinched 14 days later,leaving 8 nodes. The minimum temperature was 23° C. until October 10,20° C. to mid-November, and lower thereafter. The plants initiatedflowers under natural short-day conditions in the fall.

[0018] The following observations, measurements and comparisons describeplants grown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

[0019] Observations and measurements were mainly taken in earlyDecember, at the beginning of fall flowering. In the followingdescription color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (RHS). The color values were determined indoors in a northlight.

[0020] Classification:

[0021]Botanical.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.

[0022]Commercial.—Poinsettia cv. Fisson Beckpink.

[0023] PARENTAGE: Naturally occurring mutation of ‘Fisson’

[0024] PLANT:

[0025]Form.—Shrub, self-branching.

[0026]Growth habit.—Relatively compact, free branching, pinched plantsare bushy and round in shape.

[0027]Height (without pot).—32.0 cm.

[0028]Width.—51.7 cm.

[0029]Average number of branches.—9.9.

[0030]Average number of inflorescence.—8.1.

[0031]Stem color.—Light green, RHS 143 A-B, weak infusion of anthocyanin(reddish hue) may occur in parts.

[0032]Rooting.—Medium, about 20 days.

[0033]Blooming habit.—Begin under natural short day conditions in fall:botanically (cyathia open): around December 1; commercially (bractscolored, saleable): in late November.

[0034]Flowering response time.—About 9 weeks.

[0035]Flowering season.—Up to about 4 weeks.

[0036]Keeping quality (shelf life).—Relatively good even underunfavorable conditions: about 28 days.

[0037] FOLIAGE:

[0038]Shape.—Basal part roughly triangular, with acute base, acuminatedtip, and usually with distinct, pointed lobes.

[0039]Margin.—Entire, apart from the lobes.

[0040]Texture.—Upper surface: smooth, only weakly veined, vein color isgreenish, about RHS 146 D or lighter, the basal part of the midrib mayhave same reddish coloring as the petiole. Lower surface: smooth, exceptfor the slightly protruding midrib and finer side veins, which arearranged in a pinnate pattern, the color of the veins is very lightgreen, RHS 145 C.

[0041]Size.—Leaf blade: 12.7 cm long, 10.0 cm wide on average, Petiole:6.2 cm long.

[0042]Leaf Color.—Uniform dark-green Mature foliage color: Upper surfaceRHS 139 A, under surface RHS 137 B. New foliage color: Somewhatvariable, upper surface: near 143 A, under surface near RHS 137 D.

[0043] RHS

[0044]Petiole.—Color: Dull red, about RHS 53 B or lighter.

[0045]Aspect of leaves.—Most often the petioles are horizontally orslightly upward directed, while the leaf blades show slightly downward.

[0046] Disease Resistance: No special observations made

[0047] Flowering Description:

[0048]Whole inflorescence.—medium sized, almost flat, with the maturebracts horizontally or slightly downward directed, while the youngbracts initially show somewhat upward, diameter 21.5 cm on average.

[0049] Bracts

[0050]Number of bracts per inflorescence.—8-11.

[0051]Shape.—The basal part is roughly triangular, with acute base,distinct lobes with pointed tips, and with acuminate tip; the smaller,younger bracts are ellipticslly shaped and usually without lobes.

[0052]Bract size.—11.0 cm cm long, 9.6 cm wide.

[0053]Texture.—Surface somewhat wrinkled (rugose).

[0054]Veins.—Arranged in a pinnate pattern, they are hardly visible atthe upper surface, while they slightly protrude at the lower surface.The vein color on the upper side corresponds closely to the bract color,while it is lighter on the lower surface: pink, RHS 51 A-B.

[0055]Color.—Generally brilliant hot-pink to rose, relatively uniform;upper surface,between: RHS 52A and RHS 46 D; the margins of some of thelower bracts may appear slightly lighter: 52 A-B; lower surface, betweenRHS 52 A and 52 B.

[0056]Petiole: 10-15 mm long, reddish, about RHS 46 D.

[0057]Cyme.—About 20-22 mm wide, about 10 cyathia in a tight cluster.

[0058]Cyathium diameter.—4-5 mm.

[0059]Cyathium color.—Mainly light green, RHS 143 C, top light red, RHS46 D

[0060]Nectar cups.—1 or 2 per cyathium , 4 mm wide, bright yellow,usually no anthocyanin (reddish) coloring at the margin.

[0061] Reproductive Organs:

[0062]Stamens.—Light red, moderate pollen, yellow

[0063]Pistils.—Light red style and stigma, RHS 46 D, 6-lobed stigma

[0064]Ovaries.—Medium green, RHS 137 D, typical shape, triangular, 3ovules

[0065]Fertility.—Seed set was not observed, but most probably fertile

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named‘Fisson Beckpink’, as described and illustrated herein.